Portable electric lamp



' -Y 25, 1965 L. 1.. FLAUGHER ETAL 3,185,836

PORTABLE ELECTRICLAMP Filed May 14, 1962 "2 Sheets-Sheet l QINVENTORS .1-. 7Z4zgy2ar d BY 77 Qfizr mmgmem 1/4 Hana w May 25, 1965 Filed May 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

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United States Patent 0 3,185,836 PURTABLE ELECTRHC LAMP Lawrence L. Flaugher, Pewauiree, and Thomas G. Bur, Elm Grove, Wis, assignors to Applied Power Industries, Inc, West Allis, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,562 s Qiaims. (Cl. 240-5112) The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of lighting, and relates more particularly to the provision of an improved portable electric lamp which is especially useful in maintenance and shop work.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved portable electric service lamp which is simple, compact and durable in construction, highly flexible in its adaptations and use, and economical in operation.

In maintenance work in repair shops, service stations, garages and the like wherein mechanics are frequently required to perform diverse work in dark and confined quarters, it is customary to use electric service lights consisting of an ordinary incandescent lamp received in a rubber covered light socket and protected by a wire cage substantially embracing the bulb. While these prior service lamps enjoyed widespread use, they do nevertheless throw a harsh and glaring light, and the conventional bulbs used are subject to easy breakage requiring frequent costly replacement. Furthermore, the bulbs in the usual incandescent lamps become exceedingly hot and dangerous in use, and they are inconvenient to work with in some areas where it is not possible to hang them from an overhead support in the immediate vicinity of the work.

It is therefore another important object of this invention to provide an improved service type lamp which obviates these and other objections and disadvantages of previously available lighting devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable trouble or service lamp which utilizes a fluorescent tube for supplying a complete circle of bright and soft glare-free light to the working area.

A further object of our present invention is to provide an improved fluorescent lighting unit which is provided with special durable safety legs and conveniently accessibie and operable hanger and supporting brackets permitting ready and positive positioning at any desired angle and in diverse localities.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lighting unit which utilizes a fluorescent tube of circular formation eflectively mounted on a flat reflector plate housed in a dish-shaped base and covered by a similarly dish-shaped plastic shield providing a diffuser lens, the base and shield having corresponding peripheral flanges secured in abutting relation by a resilient channel ring which is readily removable and replaceable while providing an efiective bumper guard for the assemblage,

Still another object or the present invention is to provide a novel and improved portable trouble light which is economical in operation, which may be readily cleaned and serviced without need for special tools, which affords efiective and uniform illumination with a cool light and maximum safety, which may be conveniently manipulated, and which embodies an electrical outlet directly within its base for attaching electrically operable tools of various types.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a portable trouble lamp embodying the invention with portions being broken away for the sake of clarity;

See

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the assemblage with portions again being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the device taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view looking into the base housing with the diffuser shield, fluorescent light and reflector plate removed to show the wiring;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat reduced side elevation illustrat ing one of the working positions of the lamp;

HG. 7 is a similarly reduced side view showing the lamp suspended in one position from an overhead support;

FIG. 8 is still another reduced side view showing the lamp supported at an angle on a flat horizontal surface; and

FIG. 9 is a reduced side perspective view showing the lamp suspended in another position from an overhead support,

While the present improvements have been shown and described herein as being especially advantageously embodied in a so-called service or trouble light such as used by mechanics in the repair and servicing of machinery or the like, it is apparent that the invention is considerably more widely applicable than such specific embodiment and can be readily modified to meet various requirements. It is also contemplated that certain specific descriptive terminology used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, the improved trouble light comprises, in general, a housing formed by a dish-shaped base 19 and a similarly dish-shaped diffuser lens or shield 11 attached thereto, a reflector plate 12 secured to and housed within the base it a circular fluorescent tube or lamp 13 supported by the reflector plate 12 in spaced relation to the diffuser shield 11, operating mechanism for the fluorescent lamp 13 including a transformer ballast M, a starter 15, a connector plug 16 for the fluorescent lamp and suitable electrical wiring hereinafter further described all likewise housed Within the base 1%, and a power supply cord 17 extending through the side wall of the base 18 and having a connector plug 18 at its free end for attachment to a source of electricity.

The dish-shaped base 16 may be stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal while the diffuser shield 11 may be conveniently formed of plastic or the like as by molding, and both the peripheral lip of the base it? and the peripheral lip of the shield ii are provided with cooperating radiating flanges 20, 21 respectively formed for seating engagement and secured together by a resilient clamping ring 22 of rubber or the like having an inwardly open flange receiving groove 23. The reflector 12 is also formed of a suitable sheet material and is secured in position by means of one or more spacers 24 and cooperating screws or bolts 25 or the like so as to provide a space 26 between the rear of the reflector and the bottom Wall of the base it) within which the electric wiring is housed. The reflector 12 may furthermore be provided with openings 2'7, 28 through which the ballast i4 and the starter 15 respectively project and with a local recess 29 within which the lamp connector plug 16 is partially confined. The fluorescent tube 13 is detachably secured to the reflector 12 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring retainer clips 35? of generally U-shape which are attached to the reflector in any suitable manner, and access to the fluorescent tube 13 may obviously be readily obtained by merely removing the resilient clamping ring 22 from the abutting flanges 20, 21 and then lifting the diffuser shi ld or lens 11, whereupon the tube 13 may be snapped out of the clips 30 and disconnected from the plug 16.

the side wall of the base through a bushing 32, one of the wires 33 of the power supply cord terminating in a wire connector 34 and the other wire 35 terminating in a wire connector 36. A 'wire 37 leads from the connector 34 to the lamp connector plug 16, and a wire 38 from the connector 36 via the transformer ballast 14 to a wire 39, connector 40 and wire 41 completes the circuit to the lamp connector plug '16, the plug 16 also being connected to the starter 15 by a circuit comprising wire 42, connector 43 and wire 44 leading to one side of'the starter and wire 45, connector 46 and wire 47 leading to the other side of the starter 15. For convenience in connecting a variety of electrically powered tools directly to the improved trouble light, a convenience outlet or plug 48 may also be provided in the side wall of the base 10, the outlet 48 being connected to the electric power supply by Wires 4-9, Bil via connectors 34, 36 respectively.

A plurality of supporting legs 52 are secured in spaced relation to the bottom wall of the base 10 as by means of bolts 53 or the like, and these depending rigid legs 52 permit positioning of the lamp on any fiat supporting surface as shown in FIG. 6. The legs 52 are preferably formed of polyethylene or other plastic for durability, resiliency and economy, and the lamp may be pulled or slid across shop floors or the like on the legs with the rubber channel ring 22 acting as an eflective shock absorbing bumper. Also secured to the exterior of the bottom wall of the base 10 is a flat sheet metal plate 54 of spring steel or the'like having an elongated generally rectangular body portion 55 formed with a pair of spaced lugs 56 projecting laterally from one edge thereof some distance inwardly from the opposite ends of the body portion 55 and another pair of spaced lugs 57 projecting laterally in the opposite direction from the other edge immediately adjacent the ends of the body 55. The plate 54 may be conveniently secured to the base 10 as by means of rivets 58 or the like extended through the lugs 56, 57, the lugs 56 pivotally receiving one leg 60 of a generally L-shaped wire hanger S9 and the lugs 57 pivotally receiving the intermediate or connecting leg 62 of a generally U-shaped wire leg support and hanger 61.

The pivot leg '60 of the hanger is formed with a medial offset 63 and is resiliently urged toward the bottom wall of the base by a spring arm 64 formed integral with the plate 54 and projecting from the portion 55 thereof between the lugs 56, the spring 64 and ofiset 63 of the leg 69 thereby affording a cam action permitting the hanger 59 to be swung from its normal position against the base to a position approximately perpendicular thereto for hanging by means of the hook 65 thereof from an overhead support as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, the intermediate pivot leg 62 of the combined leg and hanger 61 is formed with a medial offset 66 between its spaced pivots and is resiliently urged toward the bottom wall of the base It) by one or more spring arms 67 also formed integral with the plate 54 and projecting from the body portion 55 thereof between the lugs 57. The spring or springs 67 accordingly cooperate with the offset 66 of the leg 62 to provide a cam action whereby the leg-hanger member 61 may be swung from its normal position flush with the bottom wall of the base '10 either to a position approximately perpendicular thereto as shown in FIG. 8 to provide for angular positioning on a supporting surface or to a position wherein the member 61 extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the base 10 and approximately parallel to the bottom thereof for hanging from an overhead support by means of one of the hooks 68 as shown in FIG. 9.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that the present invention contemplates the provision of a unique and highly effective trouble or service light which is extremely flexible in its adaptations and use.

The means for detachably securing the diffuser shield or lens to the base by means of a resilient ring having channel-shaped cross-section not only provides for ready access to the'fluorescent lamp without need for using any tools whatsoever, but the connecting ring 22 also provides an effective shock absorbing bumper. The fluorescent tube 13 is effectively clamped in position on the reflector by means of the U-shaped clamping members 8 so as to space the tube from the diffuser shield and provide a resilient shock'absorbing support. The rigid legs and the hanger and adjustable leg bracket assembly formed on the base 10 also provides for almost universal adjustment and suspension from various types of overhead supports in a variety of positions as well as from a fiat supporting surface in a plurality of positions of adjustment. Portable trouble lights embodying theinvention'have, in fact, gone into Widespread commercial use and have met with considerable commercial success.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

1. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dishshaped base having a radiating peripheral flange, a reflector secured at its medial portion only within said base in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof, a fluorescent lamp secured solely to said reflector, operating mechanism and wiring for said lamp housed within said base, an electric power supply cord extending from said base and connected to said lamp and said lamp operating mechanism for connection to a source of electric power, a dish-shaped cover having a radiating peripheral flange seated on said base flange, and a resilient ring member having a groove snugly receiving both said seated cover and base flanges to retain said cover and said base in assembled condition.

2. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dishshaped base having a radiating peripheral flange, a reflector secured at its medial portion only Within said base in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof, a circular fluorescent lamp secured to the exposed face of said reflector solely by a plurality of spaced U-shaped spring clips carried by said reflector, operating mechanism including a transformer ballast and starter secured within said base and projecting through said reflector, electrical Wiring for said operating mechanism and lamp housed within the space between said reflector and the bottom wall of said base, an electric power supply cord extending through the side wall of said base and connected to said electrical wiring, a plastic dish-shaped cover having a radiating peripheral flange seated directly on said base flange, and a rubber assembly having an annular inwardly open groove snugly receiving both said seated cover and base flanges and'forming the sole means for retaining said cover and said base in assembled condition.

3. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dish shaped base, a fluorescent lamp secured within said base, operating mechanism for said lamp housed within said base, means extending from said base and connected to said lamp and said lamp operating mechanism for connection to a source of electric power, a dish-shaped cover peripherally seated on said base, means detachably securing said cover to said base, a flat rectangular plate secured to said'base and having a resilient arm extending from a side edge thereof, a hanger member having an offset portion pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base by said plate for swinging movement relative thereto to selected positions of adjustment, the arm of said plate engaging said member for resiliently resisting swinging movement of said hanger member between its adjusted positions.

4. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dishshaped base, a fluorescent'lamp secured within said base, operating mechanism for said lamp housed within said base, means extending from said base and connected to said lamp and said lamp operating mechanism for connection to a source of electric power, a dish-shaped cover peripherally seated on said base, means detachably securing said cover to said base, a flat rectangular plate secured to said base and having a resilient arm extending from a side edge thereof, a U-shaped supporting and suspension member having its intermediate leg formed with an offset portion and pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base whereby said member may be swung to various positions of adjustment relative to said bottom wall, the arm of said plate engaging the intermediate member leg for resiliently resisting swinging movement of said member between its adjusted positions.

5. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dishshaped base, a fluorescent lamp secured within said base, operating mechanism for said lamp housed within said base, means extending from said base and connected to said lamp and said lamp operating mechanism for connection to a source of electric power, a dish-shaped cover peripherally seated on said base, means detachably securing said cover to said base, a flat rectangular plate secured to said base and having resilient arms extending from opposite side edges thereof, a U-shaped supporting and suspension member having its intermediate leg formed with an offset portion and pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base, whereby said member may be swung to various positions of adjustment relative to said bottom wall, one of the arms of said plate engaging said member for resiliently resisting swinging movement thereof between its adjusted positions, and a hanger memher having an oitset portion pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base and swing-able relative thereto to selected positions of adjustment, the other arm of said plate engaging said hanger for resiliently resisting swinging movement of said hanger member between its adjusted positions.

6. A portable lighting assemblage comprising, a dishsh-aped base, a fluorescent lamp secured within said base,

operating mechanism for said lamp housed within said base, means extending from said base and connected to said lamp and said lamp operating mechanism for connection to a source of electric power, -a dish-shaped peripherally seated cover on said base, means detachably securing said cover to said base, a flat rectangular plate secured to said base and having a resilient arm extending from each of its opposite side edges, a U-shaped supporting and suspension member having its intermediate leg formed with an offset portion and pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base beyond said offset portion, whereby said member may be swung to various positions of adjustment relative to said bottom wall, one of the arms of said plate engaging the ottset portion of said member for resiliently resisting swinging movement of said member between its adjusted positions, a hanger member having a leg formed with an offset portion and pivotally secured to the bottom wall of said base beyond said ofiset portion for swinging movement relative to said base to selected positions of adjustment, the other arms of said plate engaging said hanger for resiliently resisting swinging movement of said hanger member between its adjusted positions, and a plurality of spaced supporting legs rigidly secured to and projecting from the bottom wall of said base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,964 4/18 McFadden 240-53 1,771,430 7/30 Brady 24053 2,008,177 7/35 Godfrey 24053 2,561,691 7/51 Eckert et al. 24053 2,804,541 8/57 Schotz 240- X 2,878,372 3/59 Fry 240-5112 2,963,574 12/60 Pfafi 24051.12

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE LIGHTING ASSEMBLAGE COMPRISING, A DISHSHAPED BASE HAVING A RADIATING PERIPHERAL FLANGE, A REFLECTOR SECURED AT ITS MEDIAL PORTION ONLY WITHIN SAID BASE IN SPACED RELATION TO THE BOTTOM WALL THEREOF, A FLUORESCENT LAMP SECURED SOLELY TO SAID REFLECTOR, OPERATING MECHANISM AND WIRING FOR SAID LAMP HOUSED WITHIN SAID BASE, AN ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY CORD EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE AND CONNECTED TO SAID LAMP AND SAID LAMP OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER, 